Leopard geckos live 15–20 years in captivity — some males exceed 25 years
They are among the longest-lived lizards kept as pets. Females have shorter average lifespans because egg production, which occurs even without a male present, is metabolically costly. A gecko bought as a juvenile is a 15–20 year commitment.
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Most active at dawn and dusk when temperatures in their native Pakistan and Afghanistan are ideal.
A widespread misconception is that the tail acts like a camel's hump storing water.
Autotomy — voluntary tail shedding — is a defence mechanism.
Unlike most gecko species which use van der Waals forces to climb smooth surfaces, leopard geckos have conventional claws.
The moveable eyelid is unusual among geckos.
Hold your gecko up to a light source and look through one ear opening — you can see light through the other side.